MobiKwik launches Lite mobile wallet app for feature phone users

MobiKwik on Monday announced the launch of 'MobiKwik Lite' a mobile wallet which can be used by feature phone users and for smartphone users with 2G connectivity. The app is under 1MB works on 2G/EDGE data connection and was launched to address the connectivity issues as well to reach out the mass feature phone users in India.

The company said that the MobiKwik Lite can be downloaded with just giving a missed call to 80971-80971. It also has a single step OTP login and doesn't require an email id. The 1MB app can be download in 30 seconds said the company.

The company had pointed out recently in a Zeebiz report that it was looking to a mobile wallet app for feature phone users. This is the first mobile wallet company to launch an app for feature phone users, the only other being national bank SBI which announced the launch of Batua. Feature phones sales in India has grown to 59% of the total phone sales in 2016 and accounts for a large majority of mobile phone users in the country till date.

Also read: Digital wallets on an offensive but how do people with feature phones benefit?

“Being an under 1MB app that works smoothly on EDGE connections, MobiKwik ‘Lite’ will address the underserved smartphone users in India, who face challenges of slow data connectivity and thus are unable to access digital payments easily. Users can download this app with just one missed call and sign up with their mobile number only, no email id required,” said the company in a release.

The app is compatible with Android version 2.3 and above and has an English as well as Hindi user interface.

The app supports receiving payments, bank transfers, P2P transfer bill payments and recharges.

Bipin Preet Singh, Co-founder of MobiKwik said, “Majority of Indians do not have access to digital payments due to connectivity issues. With 250 million smartphones and less than 50% net penetration, India is highly underserved and the adverse impact of this reality is being observed by masses given the recent demonetisation. To bridge the gap between India and Bharat, we have launched MobiKwik ‘Lite’. By end of this week, the app will be available in all major Indian languages and soon, MobiKwik Lite will work without any net connectivity too, therefore addressing all the challenges being faced by masses in accessing wallet payments, be it language, connectivity or quality of smartphones.”

The company is also expanding its on-ground workforce to reach out to unorganised retailer pan India and educate them about MobiKwik ‘Lite’.